Kingpins vow landslide win for Bongbong in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Political kingpins in Mindanao vowed to deliver a landslide victory for presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in their respective provinces in the May 9 elections.

During the weeklong campaign in Mindanao with his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Marcos received the support of governors and local officials from political clans.

“We will try our best to deliver for Bongbong Marcos in Davao region. And based on our survey, he is doing well and we can do more for him,” said Duterte-Carpio, who chairs both the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Hugpong ng Pagbabago parties.
She even rallied their allies in Mindanao to work harder to ensure a landslide victory of their tandem.

“The Ilocanos and Tagalogs promised to make the Bisaya win in their provinces, while we the Bisayas here now promise to make the Ilocano win,” she said of their vaunted merger of the “Solid North” for Marcos and the “Mindanao vote” for her.

“Based on surveys that we have, both private and public, he (Marcos) is about 70 to 80 percent already here in Mindanao,” Duterte-Carpio told reporters last Wednesday in Davao when asked about Marcos’ chances of winning in Mindanao.

Among her allies in the region who have committed support for the BBM-Sara UniTeam are Davao del Norte Gov. Anthony del Rosario, Davao Occidental Gov. Claude Bautista, Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao de Oro Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Anton Lagdameo, Davao de Oro Rep. Manuel Zamora.

“I don’t think anything will change. BBM will still win as president. There will be no difference. Whatever happens, we are BBM-Sara until the election,” Del Rosario said.

Adiong made the same commitment of delivering a “big win” for Marcos and Duterte-Carpio in his province.

“Lanao del Sur fully supports the leading UniTeam tandem whom we believe will continue the leadership and change in our country,” he told his constituents during the grand rally in Marawi City last Thursday.

In the early part of their Mindanao campaign leg, the BBM-Sara tandem was also assured of support by other political kingpins like South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco, Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu and former Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat.

In Sultan Kudarat where organizers estimated an attendance of 100,000, Mangudadatu introduced Marcos to the crowd, saying: “With the unity of the province of Sultan Kudarat and the entire Philippines, I present to you the next president of the Republic of the Philippines.”

A crowd of the same size came out to cheer on the UniTeam in Digos City, Davao del Sur, for which Marcos expressed gratitude over the outpouring of support.

“The crowd understands the message very well, that is the most important part,” he said.

On Friday night, Marcos and Duterte-Carpio held a miting de avance in Pasay City with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) attending physically and virtually.
In an ambush interview after the event, Marcos told reporters: “I sincerely hope [we get the votes of OFWs]. We are not yet confident of anything until we actually get it. But of course, we are working hard to get their support.” – Ralph Edwin Villanueva